Inclusive coffee shop in A1 digital centre

On 4 November Inclusive Barista coffee shop opened in A1 digital centre. Not only could the first visitors enjoy the taste of the premium coffee but also see no barriers for people with disabilities. Barrier-free environment is created not only for guests but also for the staff.

Inclusive Barista surprised everyone once they have managed to open a new place following a post on Facebook in search of potential partners. In early October Helmut Duhs, CEO of A1 invited the project founder Alexander Avdevich and director of the coffee shop Vasya Pavlikov for negotiations and this was the day when the guys have started preparations for the opening.

At the opening ceremony unusual cups decorated with inscriptions in Braille were presented to all guests while mastermind of the project Alexander Avdevich presented his team. Coffee creation for the visitors will be performed by four wheel-chaired baristas managed by Vasily Pavlikov, the first in Belarus director with Down syndrome. At the opening ceremony Vasily solemnly pressed a start button on the coffee machine.

“A coffee shop in our flagship store is the first joint project of A1 and Inclusive Barista. We are happy to collaborate with the guys who take massive efforts in development of inclusive society in Belarus. This project was created by beautiful people: Alexander Avdevich, Vasily Pavlikov, baristas who every day prove that we are able and need to overcome all barriers. We are happy that A1 in it’s turn could offer terms and conditions acceptable for the guys”, - says Nikolai Bredelev, head of A1 PR.

Inclusive Barista at A1 is the first place in Minsk equipped with a transforming bar adopted for the height and physical capacity of the staffers: any wheel-chaired person, short or tall is able to adjust the working station for own comfort.

“We wanted our coffee shop to be comfortable for everyone: visitors, guests and staffers, - says Alexander Avdevich, - in order for baristas to focus on creation of a great coffee and not how to adjust oneself for the working station. Thanks to A1 we have got a cutting edge bar. We also want our coffee shop to be eco-friendly that is why we decided to beam our menu with the full assortment of our desserts and drinks on the wall instead of traditional menu on paper”.

Coffee cups display portraits and stories of baristas in order for the visitors to get to know not only how to address by name but also to talk to the guys after reading on a cup about their hobbies besides making a great coffee.

Planned launch was announced a few weeks ago. Other project partners joined the initiative at the preparatory phase. Thus, banking service for Inclusive Barista is provided by Alpha Bank. The guys say they are always open for partners who share similar values and invite everyone for a cup of coffee.

Inclusive Barista may be scoped further: if A1 customers appreciate this format, inclusive coffee shops may turn into a specific feature of other A1 stores.

Inclusive Barista is located at Internatsionalnaya 36, A1 flagship store, entry from Oktyabrskaya ploschad and it is open daily from 9am to 9 pm.